Meet Royal Tee Patterson | Owner of I Am Fly, LLC & Certified Life Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Royal Tee Patterson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Royal Tee, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Growing up, my goal was always to become a business owner. As an Aries, I am a natural born leader and risk taker. I tend to view things in ways others don’t. In life, I only experience blessings and lessons, I never lose. As long as I wake up each morning, I have another chance to get things right.

In July of 2012, myself and a life-long friend were shot at 32 times during an attempted robbery in the parking lot of my apartment in Atlanta, GA. That was a rude awakening, because we both walked away without a scratch. I knew then that I was here for a reason much greater than myself. That night, I promised God that I would do whatever it took to complete the mission I was here on earth for. I am a living, breathing testimony of God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy. I understand that my gifts and talents must be shared with the world.

In 2013, I began to purchase my own multimedia equipment. At the time I had no clue how to use any of the items I purchased, however, I was confident I would learn over time. While building my first business, Fly II Society, LLC, I worked as the Assistant Manager of a multimillion-dollar club called Obsessions ATL with a capacity of over 4500 patrons.

There, I gained experience in the nightlife, entertainment industry, and working with celebrities. I assisted in coordinating and managing concerts and events for Wale, Migos, August Alsina, Rocko, K Camp, Young Thug, Drumma Boy, DJ Drama, DJ Pretty Boy Tank, DJ Tephlon, the legendary Slick Rick “The Ruler”, Yung Joc, Stevie J, Joseline Hernandez, Lil’ Scrappy, Bambi and many others. Over time I began to master my craft. Acquiring skills such as graphic design, photography, and video production.

I saw a need for the services I offered. I was determined to educate myself on how to increase my creative skills and pull in paying clients consistently. Most of my clients had very little support. Myself, and my Beloved Father, and mentor became their biggest motivators while providing the services they needed to elevate. Their dreams became our dreams for them. Like eagles, we were determined to “Keep Soaring” above every storm, creating a platform people with talent could count on to assist as they “Soar To Their Highest Potential”.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the Co-Founder and Owner of I AM FLY, LLC; a One Stop Creative Shop. Our team of professional creatives provides Branding, Photography, Video Production, Graphic Design, Web Design, and Custom Apparel services.

What sets us apart is the fact that we support clients whose elevation process can be very difficult. Our goal is to motivate them along their journey while bringing their visions to life. Our company prides itself in finding the value in our clients’ creative needs while building their businesses and brands.

We are proud of our capacity to serve a culturally diverse client base. Our client’s success is our success, and we love to see them grow, attract more supporters/customers, gain positive recognition, win awards, and provide for their families.

We are extremely excited about all of the fly projects and products we will be launching in the near future. My team and I are working on so much behind the scenes. We will post updates on our new social media accounts soon.

I am where I am today because of my passion. I am a multi-award-winning Creative Director, Certified: Business Owner, Life Coach, Project Manager, Web Designer, Professional & Published Photographer, Graphic Designer, Sales Professional, Digital Marketer, and Cybersecurity Associate. I am also a self-taught Video Producer/Editor. These are the skills that take I AM FLY, LLC to greater heights.

Was it easy?…Absolutely not! “The Hero’s Journey” is never easy, but it’s always worth it.

Over the years, I invested tens of thousands of my own funds to build my business. No investors, no loans, and no grants. I’ve had to return two of my vehicles to save money. Walked 9-10 miles home after my shift at Obsessions ATL because the buses and trains didn’t run in the middle of the night. I’ve had to move out of one of my apartments in ATL once my savings started running low. I’ve been homeless and had to sleep in my car for a few months while stacking my funds back up, taking daily showers at Planet Fitness and going to the library to complete projects for my clients. However, I always held my head high and did allow those situations to stop me from bettering myself, raising my standards, and making my vision a reality.

I am sharing these experiences because it is important to me for people to understand that strength and resilience are the components necessary to overcome the obstacles that you may endure on your journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur. It takes sacrifice and courage. People wouldn’t believe the trials and tribulations I’ve been through, but they can read about some of them when I release my first self-help book.

Within the past 10 years, I’ve learned that as a business owner, there are no limits. I learned to inspire other entrepreneurs to take the leap of faith and become business owners. I learned to be very patient, and the importance of not allowing our egos to distract us from our ultimate goal.

I want the world to know that I AM FLY, LLC was created with dreamers in mind. Every business owner, influencer, and individual with talent are potential clients.

We are continuously growing our team of reliable creatives. If you provide any of the services we offer, please contact us for a video interview. We strive to keep our teammates booked and busy. With that said, we are blessed to announce that most of our teammates are officially off the clock and completing creative projects for clients full-time. The improvements we made over the years were because of the needs of our growing client base.

My Beloved Father, mentor, and business partner; Myron Patterson and I have a natural gift of recognizing talent/potential. Although my father is no longer in this realm due to bile duct cancer, his legacy lives on through myself, my sisters, his grandchildren and my mother.

The success of others, especially IAF clients, truly matters to us both. Again, we are here to motivate you and provide the services you need as you, “Soar To Your Highest Potential”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Knowing me, if I go anywhere, it’s for networking purposes and to have a good time. We would go eat at Slutty Vegan, Peach Cobbler Cafe, Houston’s Restaurant, Frost Bistro, OLG Southern Cuisine, Fins & Feathers Restaurant, Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles, and the Milk & Honey Restaurant.

We would also check out Elleven45 Lounge, Penthouse Sports Bar, 404 Bar, and Esco Lounge ATL.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to start by thanking Most High for continuous Divine Protection, and for blessing me with this vision. I have so many gifts and talents, and I am grateful for each of them. I understand that the mission must continue, and I am built for the challenge.

My incredible parents, (Mother; Diana N. Patterson, M.Ed., Adult Educator, Certified Life Coach, Playwright, and Amazon Best Selling Author and Beloved Father; Myron Patterson, Mentor, Idealist, Inventor, Builder, and Co-Founder of I Am Fly, LLC, 5/18/1962 – 4/20/2020) were the perfect pair of souls to raise myself and my three sisters.

I truly appreciate them for teaching us to always do our best and to understand that anything we put our minds to, we will achieve. They never allowed us to settle for less than our best. They raised us to be leaders and to understand that competing with others is a low vibrational, unnecessary distraction from our individual goals.

Humbly speaking, I live by the following quote;

“I have not come here to compete; I have come here to rule” ~ Shah Rukh Khan

My beautiful sisters; LaToya Goudy (Child Educator & Owner of Ahavah Kids, LLC), Dr. LaNisha Patterson, PhD. (Medical Researcher, and Co-Owner of Throw’d Off Entertainment, LLC, and LaShawna Patterson (Houston Realtor & Owner of LP Empire Group) constantly show me love (even tough love when necessary). They encourage me, and always make sure that I give my all during each creative project. They are all incredible women, mothers, and business owners. I am so blessed to have them and the rest of my family/friends.

Special thanks to my cousin, Leashawn Wesley, for her unconditional love and support.

My cousin Maren Patterson, Owner of Maren Multimedia has taught me so much over the years. He is one of the reasons I am so big on quality, while no longer seeking perfection. I’ve delayed my success for far too long due to striving for perfection.

My best friend Matt Lowe is someone I know I can always count on. He’s honest, loyal, supportive, gives great advice, and is an all-around solid guy.

Many thanks to Rob, the former Owner of Club Obsessions ATL for the knowledge he gave me as I worked closely with him and his team. There, I met Raphael “The Cam Killa”, a very successful photographer in Atlanta and Co-Owner of “Be Royal” clothing, who inspired my nickname, “Royal Tee” as I was going through a very challenging part of my journey. I also met a wonderful woman, who later became my Business Coach, Ebone Chanel, Owner of Elevate Agency. She taught me that my business would only be as healthy as I am. After just a few sessions her advice helped me realize that I needed therapy to heal from the loss of my father, PTSD, and other issues I neglected to face.

Huge thanks again to my loving mother, Diana N. Patterson, M.Ed. for blessing me with the opportunity to be her Manager, and Creative Producer for her companies, DNP Life Consulting and DNP Productions, LLC. We’ve successfully sold out of tickets for her critically acclaimed stage play, “Everything Grows in the Valley, A Few Good Men”, through which we received Houston City Council Recognition. I am blessed to say that we recently took the steps to get her first book, “Everything Grows in the Valley” in Barnes & Noble, Walmart and several other retailers.

I must thank my mentor and dear friend Cam Hill, host of “The Cam Hill Show” who blessed me with the opportunity to be his Creative Director, and meet several moguls, and celebrities. We’ve won multiple awards, including Telly Awards, and the River Award for “Houston’s TV Show of the Year” in 2022. We successfully produced inspirational tv interviews of over 200 celebrities and business owners.

A big thanks to Berry Dynamic PR Agency for the incredible branding strategy session that cultivated my aspiration to obtain certifications in my craft. The advice and opportunities they provide truly elevates IAF in so many ways. The Owner, Berry Dynamic is indeed, “The Force Stimulating Change”.

My other clients such as Dr. Conte Terrell, Valencia Franks, Asyah Tyra, The God DR, Tadessa Johnson, Tanya Clark, Throw’d Off Entertainment, LLC, Berry Dynamic, Author Reginald & Lisa McAlpine, Lord Yancyy, Dr. Sonia R. White, Lord Goudy III, AD Green, Monique White, Dr. Paula B. Miller, Charles Stamps, Look Good, Feel Good Barbershop, Molding The Clay, LLC, Strategic Growth Alliance 366, and so many others have all contributed to my growth and success.

I am beyond grateful to be a recent graduate of the C. T. Bauer College of Business – S.U.R.E. Program at the University of Houston. A program for entrepreneurs that taught and shared many tools, strategies, and so much knowledge to set me up for success. I am more confident than I have ever been as a business owner. Through completing the program, I was blessed to receive Congressional Recognition, Houston City Controller Recognition, a letter from Dean Paul A. Pavlou, PhD., and a certificate from The Dakri Center for Economic Inclusion.

Finally, there are about 40 books that I have read and learned from throughout my entrepreneurial journey. I will only mention 8 of them:

“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill

“Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter

“Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren

“Everything Grows in the Valley” by Diana N. Patterson, M.Ed.

“Success Through Stillness” by Chris Morrow and Russell Simmons

“The Power of Broke” by Daymond John

“Dare to Lead” by Dr. Brene Brown

“The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene

Website: www.teamiamfly.com

Instagram: @iamflyllc

Twitter: @iamflyllc

Facebook: @iamflyllc

Youtube: @iamflyllc

Other: Email: royaltee@teamiamfly.com

Image Credits
The Cam Killa Kevin Bailey